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Sea-Tac Airport opened its first new terminal facility in 30 years on June 15. The stunning architecture of the new south end adds nearly a million square feet of space for departing and arriving passengers. Sea-Tac also becomes one of the first major U.S. airports to open new facilities with integrated baggage and security systems since the events of Sept. 11, 2001.
The 2,102-foot Concourse A includes 14 airline gates, a dozen new restaurants and shops, several pieces of new artwork and the airport’s first moving sidewalks. From the airfield side, passengers and employees have expansive views of the Olympic Mountains.
The adjacent Arrivals Hall, with its soaring exposed structural steel ceiling and 300-foot-long curved wall of glass, provide a spacious, light-drenched place for people to meet arriving passengers. Both inside and outside the window wall is a unique rock and water feature, designed by famed landscape architect Robert Murase.
Other new features include ticketing and baggage claim facilities and a 10-station security checkpoint.
“The architects and the airport faced the dual challenge of meeting new and, at the time, largely undefined security requirements while creating an airport experience that would make travelers in a post 9/11 world feel safe and comfortable. The result was truly successful,” said Gina Marie Lindsey, Sea-Tac’s managing director.
Four new baggage carousels expand the existing baggage claim area. The new integrated security system for outgoing baggage features 100 percent explosives detection equipment in an efficient, in-line conveyor design. This system will handle one-third of all baggage at Sea-Tac, an average of about 52,000 bags on a typical summer day.
The new ticket counters are occupied by Asiana, SAS, British Airlines, Aeroflot and EVA. American Airlines, China Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Frontier Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines, Sun Country Airlines and American Trans Air use the 14 gates. American and Delta are opening new VIP lounges.
Despite the concourse’s almost half-mile length, passengers are never more than 300 feet from services and amenities. Concourse A has the airport’s first true food court, with a view of Mount Rainier. It includes Manchu Wok, Great American Bagel Bakery, Africa Lounge, Starbucks Coffee and The Grove Natural Snacks. Further down the concourse is Tully’s Coffee, Red Hook Mountain Room and La Pisa Café. Hudson Group has three news gift stores as well as a bookstore along the concourse.
Nearly $2 million worth of spectacular new public art was integrated into the public areas and concourse for both practical and aesthetic reasons. A stunning art glass wall, for example, helps guide passengers to the escalator going to the satellite train station.
The expansion lengthens the drop-off area on the airport drives by 125 feet, giving motorists more area for dropping off passengers. There also is a new Combined Communications and Control Center, in a secure section of the new concourse, where emergency and non-emergency duties were consolidated.
Sea-Tac's new facilities include the Arrivals Hall, Concourse A and office building.